Final answer:
An electoral mandate is when voters show strong support for the president's policies, often reflected in a significant share of the popular and Electoral College vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
An electoral mandate is the perception that the voters strongly support the president and his or her policies. This concept typically relates to a situation where the president has won a significant portion of the popular vote and Electoral College vote, indicating widespread support for the president's agenda. For instance, President Barack Obama's victory in 2008 was considered a mandate, having secured 52.9 percent of the popular vote and 67.8 percent of the Electoral College vote.
The public's approval of the president can be influenced by numerous factors including the economy, national security, and other significant events throughout the presidential term. High public approval can be leveraged by the president to push their policy agenda, especially if it follows an election that was won by a comfortable margin. However, approval ratings are not static and tend to fluctuate over time.
Elected officials often try to sway public opinion towards their personal positions rather than conforming to the prevailing public opinion. For instance, despite not winning the popular vote, President Donald Trump's victory in the Electoral College still provided him leverage to implement his policies.